1952 Topps #150 Ted Beard
About Ted Beard
Cramer Theodore "Ted" Beard (1921-2011), a small (5-foot-8) left-handed-hitting outfielder from Woodsboro, Maryland, signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates as an amateur free agent out of a 1942 tryout camp and climbed through the minors after wartime service. His breakout came with the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians in 1948, where he batted .301 and led the American Association in triples (17), runs (131) and walks; his 31 outfield assists that year earned him the nickname "The Arm" for one of the game's most accurate throwing arms. Beard reached the majors late in 1948 and played parts of seven big-league seasons (1948-1952 with Pittsburgh, 1957-1958 with the Chicago White Sox), serving mostly as a reserve outfielder and pinch-runner. His most famous moment came on July 16, 1950, when he became just the second player ever to clear the 86-foot right-field grandstand roof at Forbes Field, the only man to match Babe Ruth's final career homer there. In the majors he hit .198 with 94 hits, 6 home runs and 35 RBI over 194 games, never appearing in a World Series, and later managed in the minors. This third-series card, printed before the scarce high numbers (#311-407) that make the set's back end so prized, exists with both white and gray back stock.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Variations & how to tell them apart
White Back / Gray Back Series 3 (cards 131-190)
The third series exists on two different card stocks. The standard issue is on white/cream stock; a much scarcer parallel was printed on gray cardboard. The gray stock was used at the END of the series-3 run — leftover stock run through the same press, not a separate or foreign printing. Gray backs have a duller, gloss-less front and are never found with gum stains.
- White Back: Standard issue. White/cream card stock, normal red-ink back. Sharper, glossier front.
- Gray Back — scarcer: Scarce parallel on gray card stock. Duller, gloss-less front; never gum-stained. #189 Pete Reiser is the rarest of the run; #146 Frank House appears with a pale/yellow Tiger logo. NOTE: long mislabeled 'Canadian' (borrowed from the genuinely-Canadian 1954 Topps issue) — there is no evidence the 1952 grays were a Canadian release. TCDB catalogs these as 'Grey Back' against the normal 'Red Back'.
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 614 | 0 | 4 | 56 | 99 | 158 | 121 | 172 | 4 |
| SGC | 84 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 10 | 16 | 46 | 1 |
SGC by variation: Standard 83 · Gray Back 1
Graded population — a scarcity guide, not a price. Snapshot 2026-06-22. Half-grades fold down (8.5→8); totals are summed across each grader's listed variations.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the 1952 Topps Ted Beard card?
It is card #150 of 407 in the 1952 Topps set - Topps' first flagship issue and the cornerstone of the postwar hobby. It pictures the Pittsburgh Pirates player.
Does the 1952 Topps Ted Beard have back variations?
Yes. The third series exists on two different card stocks. The standard issue is on white/cream stock; a much scarcer parallel was printed on gray cardboard. The gray stock was used at the END of the series-3 run — leftover stock run through the same press, not a separate or foreign printing. Gray backs have a duller, gloss-less front and are never found with gum stains.
Is the 1952 Topps Ted Beard valuable?
Value depends on grade and (where it applies) the back variation. Use the links above to check current T206 Cards inventory and live eBay listings.
Sources: the Trading Card Database, Baseball-Reference, and PSA & SGC population reports. Card data & population compiled and maintained by T206Cards.com. Page last updated 2026-07-01.